U.S.S. Charleston

By Patrick McSherry

GENERAL:

The USS CHARLESTON, a protected cruiser, was sent to the Far East after
the outbreak of the war, convoying transports containing 2,500 troops to
reinforce Commodore Dewey's Asiatic Squadron and
to begin the land campaign in the Philippines. On her way to Manila, she
visited Honolulu, Hawaii and even captured Guam.
After joining Dewey, CHARLESTON became part of the blockading squadronat
Manila, and took part in the final action leading to the surrender of the
city.

BACKGROUND:

The U.S.S. CHARLESTON was launched on July 19, 1888 at San Francisco's
Union Iron Works and was commissioned on December 26, 1889. Her first commander
was Capt. G. C. Remey.

CHARLESTON's first duty was to join the South Pacific squadron as
flagship. Later, she had the honor of carrying the body of the Hawaiian
King Kalakaua back to Hawaii when he died abroad. In 1891, when tensions
ran high during a revolution by British-backed rebels against the U.S.-backed
government of Chile, the Chilean steamship ITATA left San Diego, California
apparently to take supplies to theChilean rebels. The American
government ordered an extensive search for the vesselin which the
CHARLESTON took a conspicuous part. The ITATA eventually steamed into Chile
without being intercepted. The U.S. demanded that the ship and her contents
be turned over to the U.S., an action that the CHARLESTON's Captain Remey
stated made the U.S. and her navy "very unpopular with the Insurgents on
account of our action." The Insurgents won the rebellion, and the anti-American
feeling which the CHARLESTON's commander spoke about boiled over when the
crew of WinfieldScott
Schley'sBALTIMORE went ashore. Two crewmen
were killed and a scoreothers wounded.

In the latter part of 1891, CHARLESTON was assigned as flagship of
the Asiatic Squadron, however during most of 1892 she was again serving
with the South Pacific Squadron.

In February of 1893, CHARLESTON arrived in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
About a month and a half later, she took part in the International Naval
Review at the Columbian Exposition. From 1893 to 1896, CHARLESTON steamed
around thecoasts of South America, and eventually returned to the
Asiatic Squadron. The CHARLESTON returned to the United States in July
of 1896, and was decommissioned at San Francisco.

When the Spanish American War broke out, CHARLESTON was hastily recommissioned
on May 5, 1898. She was ordered to convoy the transports CITY
OF PEKING, CITY OF SIDNEY,
and the AUSTRALIA, containing 2,500
troops,destined for the Philippines. In addition, the CHARLESTON
and her charges carrieda new supply of ammunition for Dewey's understocked
magazines; a new gun toreplace one of the BALTIMORE's
, which had been damaged; and sixty-seven additional navy crewmen. On its
way across the Pacific, the small squadron stopped at Hawaii,
where it was greeted with huge celebrations. The visited helped to further
the efforts to have the small island nation annexed by the United States.

CHARLESTON's next stop on her trip across the vast Pacific was less
friendly, but sadly comical. She had been ordered to capture
Guam from Spain. The invasion required little effort since Spain had
neglected to inform her outpost on the smallisland that the U.S.
and Spain were at war. Charleston captured the island withoutany
bloodshed.

CHARLESTON arrived in Manila Bay on June 30, 1898, almost to months
after the Battle of Manila Bay. As the CHARLESTON
and her small squadron approached, there was concern and speculation among
the crews of Dewey's ship as they did not know if it was an American or
a Spanish squadron that was approaching. The arrival f the squadron was
the catalyst for extensive cheering all around. CHARLESTONjoined
in maintaining the blockade of Manila Bay.

On August 13, Dewey's squadron prepared for action against Manila,
with the CHARLESTON taking up position to bombard the city's Luneta Battery,
should it become necessary. After a few token shots from the assembled
squadron, Manila surrendered by a pre-arranged signal.

Following the conclusion of the Spanish American War, CHARLESTON
remained inthe Philippines and was involved in actions against
the Filipino Insurgents. She tookpart in joint operations with
the U.S. Army, and also in the Subic Bay expedition,which resulted
in the capture of that strategic deep water harbor.

On November 2, 1899, CHARLESTON ran aground on a reef near Camiguin
Island, north of Luzon. She was a total loss. Her crew managed to escape
to a nearby island, where they remained until being picked up by the HELENA
on November 12, 1899.

ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:

The CHARLESTON was very lightly armored and had outdated horizontal
compound engines. She was intended to be used for raiding commerce.

TECHNOTES:

Classification:

Protected Cruiser C-2

Laid down:

January 20, 1887

Launched:

July 19, 1888

Commissioned:

December 26, 1889

Rig:

Two masted schooner

Armament:

Two 8 inch breechloading guns

Six 6 inch breechloading guns

Four 6 pounder rapid fire guns

Two 3 pounder rapid fire guns

Two 1 pounder rapid fire guns

Two Colt revolving Guns

One field piece (for landing parties)

Contractor:

Union Iron Works, San Francisco, CA.

Length:

312 feet, 7 inches

Beam:

46 feet, 2 inches

Draft:

18 feet, 7 inches

Maximum draft fully loaded:

21 feet, 8 1/2 inches

Displacement

3,730 tons

Compliment:

20 Officers and 286 Enlisted Men under the command of Capt.
Henry Glass

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